Walk-through metal detectors coming to Emmet County Building

Metal detectors have been ordered and are soon to be installed outside of Emmet County's circuit, district and probate-juvenile courts, said Emmet County District Court administrator Lisa Smith.

"We've been working on improving the security for several years and it started with getting cameras (in 2008 and 2009)," Smith said. "We've always had security buttons."

Smith said the metal detectors were funded by local revenue sharing money and the total cost of all three detectors, plus shipping, was $8,760.

"It's always been in our plan, it's just being able to get funding," said Smith, who wrote the grant request for $9,009.095. The actual amount awarded was $9,000, she said.

The metal detectors are meant to enhance security and prevent people from bringing weapons into the courts, Smith said. And she said they may be installed within the next 30 days.

She said there was no particular incident that prompted the upcoming addition, but that the safety of those visiting the courts and working in the courts has always been a priority of the judges.

"Periodically people will come with, you know, backpacks and things to court that we maybe have to have an officer come search or wand and end up holding up court a little bit before you can go in. As far as any particular weapon cases, nothing in particular that I'm aware of. However, the problem is, without having a screening device ... you really wouldn't know."

In a letter to the Local Revenue Sharing Board dated April 28, Emmet County Sheriff Pete Wallin said, "In order to improve security, the Emmet County Sheriff's Office would like to install walk-through metal detectors at the entrance of each of the three court rooms. The walk-through metal detectors would improve security for the courtrooms and speed up the process of scanning individuals that are entering the court rooms."

It continues, "County courthouses across the country have seen an increase in incidents involving violence over the last decade. Courthouse employees worry about the increasing threats of violence toward judges, lawyers and their clients. We want the public and the employees of the courthouses to feel safe."

The metal detectors are to be manned by Emmet County Sheriff's Office deputies, Wallin said on Tuesday.

Wallin said the walk through detectors will be quicker than the wands currently used. He likened the new detectors to those at airports and he said they will require people to remove metal objects from their pockets and from their bodies before walking through them.

Smith said on busy court days or in the instance of a larger trial it may take people longer than before to enter the courts and people may want to arrive about 10 minutes earlier than usual.